Dracaena colorama

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct variety of Dracaena plant substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly by medium long, narrow, sword-shaped, dense spreading leaves, the leaves being compactly grouped and erect, the texture thereof being hard and the distinctive color pattern of its leaves with a marginal red-pink strip widening from base to apex, a less prominent mid-rib pink stripe merging with the marginal stripe at the apex, two green stripes on either side of the mid-rib stripe, widening from base to apex, coloration of all stripes on both sides being substantially the same.

A new distinct variety of ornamental plant of the genus Dracaenaoriginated as a mutation of an unpatented variety of Dracaena marginata.

The mutation was discovered in the nursery located at 61-2 Motomachi,Minamiohshimizu-cho, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

It has been asexually reproduced at the same location by means ofcuttings and its distinguishing features appeared to be permanent.

The accompanying illustration depicts a color photograph of a pottedplant of the new variety in approximately its true colors, the plantshown being approximately 40 weeks old at the time of photographing. Thespecimen was at that time approximately 16 inches tall from the groundto the tip of the central leaf.

In the following detailed description of my new variety, the colormethod chosen for identification has been taken of the Inter-SocietyColor Council-National Bureau of Standards, Supplement to Circular 553,the ISCC Method of designating Color and a Dictionary of color names.

The new variety is a herbaceous plant and has medium long, narrow, swordshaped, dense spreading leaves 5 to 14 inches in length. The width ofthe leaves varies from 1/4 to 7/8. As in the mother plant Dracaenamarginata, the leaves are compactly grouped and pendant. The texture ofthe leaves is the same as in the mother plant.

The habit of growth is somewhat slower than the parent, growing about 12inches the first year if allowed to grow without cutting. Because of thepleasing color pattern, this new variety makes an excellent house plant.It propagates true from cuttings, rooting easily at each node which isplaced below the earth surface.

Among outstanding features are included the novel striping of theleaves, represented by a marginal red-pink stripe (No. 12 Strong Red) onboth margins, 1/16 inch in width at the base and at the apex, wideninggradually to 1/8 inch between the base and the apex. There is a lessprominent pink mid-rib stripe extending from the base of the leaves tothe apex, (Color No. 2 Strong Pink), there being also a tendency forthis mid-rib stripe to merge towards the apex with the marginal red-pinkstripe. There are two green stripes (No. 111 Dark Green 01) on each sideof the aforesaid mid-rib stripe, and between the marginal stripes. Thesegreen stripes are 1/16 inch in width at the base and widen gradually to1/8 inch between the base and the apex. Coloration of all stripesaforesaid on both sides of the leaves appears to be the same.

COMPARISONS

The principal differences between the varieties lie in the color patternand shape of their leaves as follows:

1. The color pattern of the leaves of the new variety Dracaena coloramaconsist of: a wider and more distinctive marginal red-pink stripe.

2. Where the green is predominant in the Dracaena marginata, there is agreater proportion of red and pink in this new variety.

3. The leaves of the mutant hereof are somewhat narrower and have a morependant tendency than the parent Dracaena marginata.

Having thus disclosed my discovery, I claim:
 1. The new and distinctvariety of Dracaena plant substantially as herein shown and described,characterized particularly by medium long, narrow, sword-shaped, densespreading leaves, the leaves being compactly grouped and erect, thetexture thereof being hard and the distinctive color pattern of itsleaves with a marginal red-pink strip widening from base to apex, a lessprominent mid-rib pink stripe merging with the marginal stripe at theapex, two green stripes on either side of the mid-rib stripe, wideningfrom base to apex, coloration of all stripes on both sides beingsubstantially the same.